Boerne Champion played some of its best baseball of the year last weekend when the Chargers run-ruled two opponents.
Champion defeated Alamo Heights Friday in a district game and then whipped Warren Saturday afternoon in a non-district contest.
The Chargers improved to 7-5 overall and are 1-2 in district. They continue league play Tuesday at Veterans Memorial.
Vs. Alamo Heights
Everything seemed to be working Friday night against the Mules as Champion won 13-0 in four and a half innings.
After taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, the Chargers exploded for 11 in the bottom of the second to blow it open. Champion sent 16 batters to the plate and batted 12 before the Mules could get an out, and it was 10-0 by then.
First-year Chargers head coach Ben Woodchick said his team has the ability to play this well every time.
“I wasn’t surprised, our guys are capable of this every game,” he said. “We were off to a slow start in district and needed a spark, and we got it today. Hopefully, we can build off this.”
The Mules couldn’t produce a run or a base knock against Champion pitcher Karson Kaiser, who tossed a no hitter. Kaiser fanned 2 and walked 5 and was in a few jams but got out of them with timely pitching and also with help from his defense that turned two double plays.
“He got himself out of stuff, it helped playing good defense behind him. That’s something we’ve struggled with a little bit and we probably played our best defensive game by far,” Woodchick said. “It seemed like every time he was in a pickle, he got out of it with a ground-ball double play, so that was huge.”
Champion finished with 8 hits, including a double and a single by Quinn Grable, who also drove in 3 runs and scored once.
Aaron Basham doubled, pushed in a run and scored twice; Aiden Pickett singled, had an RBI and scored 3 runs; Ryan Brandon singled and scored; Jordan Ballin walked twice, singled, picked up an RBI and scored once; and Connor Holtorf singled and scored.
Jacob Caraway singled, drove in 3 runs and scored once; Jacob Gresham crossed home plate twice; and Cam Logan scored a run.
Woodchick said it was a good win but added that his team has a lot of work to do.
“This one feels good and we’ll celebrate it, but it’s back to work,” he said.
Vs. Warren
Champion beat the Warriors 11-1 in six innings Saturday morning. The Chargers scored 3 in the first and 5 in the third before Warren scratched for a run in the top of the sixth to make it 8-1.
Champion answered with 3 in the bottom of the sixth to kick in the mercy rule.
The Chargers finished with 9 hits and sent 19 different batters to the plate in the game.
Aiden Pickett singled, scored and drove in a run; Ryan Brandon had 2 hits, 1 RBI and scored once; Jordan Ballin tripled and singled, pushed in 2 runs and scored a run; Connor Holtorf doubled, collected 2 RBI and scored once; Rowdy Miller walked and scored; Jacob Caraway waked and scored twice; Nic Cortez crossed home plate once; Jacob Gresham singled and scored; Cam Logan singled and picked up an RBI; Aaron Basham walked and picked up an RBI; Karson Kaiser singled, scored and drove in a run; Quinn Grable walked and scored; and Josh Bowman had an RBI.
Three different pitchers threw in the game and combined for a 2-hitter. Robbie Vela picked up the win in 3 innings of work. Vela didn’t give up hit or run, walked 1 and fanned 2. Basham threw 2 innings and struck out 3 batters and didn’t give up a hit, walk or run, while Matthew Booth went an inning and yielded 2 hits, 1 run, sat down 1 and walked 2.
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